Open Public Services White Paper and the Localism Agenda Cllr Steve Eling Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Resources
Melanie Dudley Director - Improvement and Efficiency
What’s it about? • Policy framework for public sector reform • Sets out principles for modernising public services • Outlines types of services, requiring different approaches
Principles • Choice – wherever possible increase choice • Decentralisation – power decentralised to the lowest appropriate level • Diversity – no state monopolies any more • Fairness – access, funding and competition • Accountability – public services accountable to users and taxpayers
3 Types of Services • Individual • Neighbourhood • Commissioned
‘Strong’ Local Government • • • •
Take advantage of new opportunities Represent their communities Champion democracy/ accountability Actively decentralise to individuals and neighbourhoods • Become excellent open commissioners
Implications for Sandwell • Localism Bill • Open Public Services White Paper
Localism Bill Has key implications for: • Town Planning • Housing • Community challenge
Implications (1) • Organisational Shape • Steer Sandwell agenda – Leadership
• Commissioning Skills required – Strong Client – Manage Risk
Implications (2) • Employment changes – Fewer staff – Employee Mutuals?
• Delivery of Council priorities
Implications (3) • • • • •
Voluntary sector - capacity Personalisation agenda Competition Payment by results TUPE and pensions
Key messages • Principles – Policy Framework
• ‘Strong’ role for local government • Challenging Implications – Open Commissioning
What next? • You have a key role in moving this agenda forward for Sandwell • We need you to understand the implications for you and your service areas. • We need you to tell us what they are! www.sandwelltrends.info/themedpages/OpenPublicServices